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How to prove/claim Native American heritage on college applications.

I am a senior in high school and my father's great great grandmother was Abanaki Indian, and my mother's great great grandmother was also Abanaki Indian (simply a coincidence). This would make me 1/32 on BOTH sides of my family. I have recently been informed that the fact that I am 1/32 qualifies me as able to put "American Indian/Alaskan Native" on my college application. It would be very difficult to actually provide paperwork and proof of my relation to my great great great grandmothers, but I'm sure it could be done (considering my father is very involved in my family's genealogy.) Although I know I am not a member of a tribe or even involved in my Native American heritage, I would truly like to be! I want to learn more about the culture and my family. I also am aware that it is a very controversial topic that I am bringing up but I want to know opinions and ways to help prove my heritage. Would it be "wrong" of me to label myself as American Indian in order to get a step up on my college application? (I only plan on applying to one school, hoping that I get in early admission ) I have a 3.6815 GPA and many many extracurricular activities, but my SAT scores are sadly medeoker. I know that some schools do not even check to see the validness(?) of people's ethnicities that they check off, but in case they check mine I want to be able to prove it.

You're not a member of a tribe, not involved in Native American heritage. For the first seventeen or so years of your life, you've checked a box for something other than Native American when asked about ethnicity. I think you already know that what you're doing is dishonest and that you're only doing it because you think it will give you an advantage. Just because someone has a great great grandparent who was a certain ethnicity, does not necessarily make them that ethnicity. For example, let's say that someone is black, but they just discovered that their great great grandfather is white. Should he or she claim that he/she is now white? Physically, they appear black, but they're very interested in finding out more about their white ancestor. See this (long) previous post, especially post #34 by an admissions officer. Could you get away with this? Possibly, depending on the school, but do you want to take the chance that you will be discovered and that it could hurt your chances for admission?http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=292731&highlight=disingenuous

I have no idea what your legal obligation is here, but the college is asking because they want to attract people who come from diverse backgrounds or because they want to encourage applicants who have had a hard time because of their background. If you haven't been involved with Native American culture, and you've never been disadvantaged for your background, it is morally wrong to put it down on your app. What if you're taking a place away from a kid who grew up in poverty on a reservation, but whose GPA was slightly less than yours? But writing an essay about studying your Native American heritage is cool!

In listening to what people are saying, I think you'd be totally OK if you just told the truth. They are the ones asking about your background. You can check both boxes (white and NA)--and also check "other" and indicate you are 1/16 Native American along with the name of the tribe. You are then being truthful about your ethnicity--let the colleges do what they want with the information.

Personally I would tell them that you are 1/16? or 1/32?Im not sure what they would since you have no documentation. If anything become more accultured. A lot of natives (not me in particular however) find someone "playing the native card", as we call it, offensive. Not too offensive I will add, but coming from a very diverse native area, I will say, I respect your decision to try and I believe you should try and learn more. I can honestly say I don't think you will get far without a roll # or tribal ID or something similar. I wont go in to too much detail as a lot of this is personal..but if you want to know more send me a message-I would definiately talk about it. I enjoy talking to people interested in Natives..There aren't too many =)

tyler09, people like me? I apologize for having native american in my blood and trying to use every advantage that I can to get into the ONLY school that I want to get into. And secondly, if the rule is 1/32, then how is this "cheating the system" or lying? The colleges set the rules, not me or anyone else. They are the ones who established this number and I just want to use it to my advantage. If I really need a tribal ID, then I guess I'm out of luck but I really don't think that is the case.

I disagree with Prefect. If you are, in fact, of Native American descent, it really doesn't matter how you have lived your life culturally since birth. I think that is ridiculous.

Despite our ethnic or racial backgrounds, we all come from families which have chosen or fallen into certain lifestyles or patterns of behavior. Those outcomes do not change our ethnicity or race, however.

I think Muffy makes an interesting point, but I would think that the colleges themselves can decide whether or not your particular background meets their admission goals. It really isn't up to anyone else to judge whether or not you have been disadvantaged in any way, unless they want to have a sit-down with you and spend a few weeks hearing your life story. I am sure that your Native American background plays a unique role in the story of your family.

Just present your situation honestly, and back it up with as much documentation as you can. Don't be disuaded by those who may have a knee jerk reaction to weed you out as an "imposter". Every race and ethnic group has members who would like to reject those who don't match their version of what it means to belong. Other underrepresented groups have members who are sometimes overly sensitive when they perceive that individuals could be taking advantage of a system which could help to level the playing field. Just be who you are, approach the application honestly, and let the adcoms decide.

also, a friend of mine is 1/16th Cherokee (I think) and he said that if you get your race on your federal card changed, that the college/univeristy can't question it. the problem is that I wouldn't know how to go about changing my federal card considering it's filed downtown in my city somewhere.

Definition. As described in DoD Directive 1350.2 a Native-American or Alaskan Native is a person having origins in the original peoples of North America, AND who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition. (emphasis mine)

There is no one contemporary majority definition that establishes a person’s identity as a Native-American. The Bureau of Census states that “anybody who claims to be a Native-American” is a Native-American. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), which is the organization responsible for monitoring Indian affairs and issues, general definition to be a Native-American, you must:

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